Day 1: Arrive in Vancouver

An arranged limo service will transfer you to your hotel, with plenty of time to explore Vancouver's renowned Seawalk and Stanley Park. The hotel is just blocks from English Bay, where you can hop on one of the city's well loved mini water taxi tug boats that take you across the harbor to Granville Island and its famous market.

Stay: Opus Hotel

Days 2-5: Mackenzie Sound

Spend the morning visiting the UBC Museum of Anthropology, considered among the finest in North America; we can arrange a one hour guided tour. You will be immersed in First Nations culture at many of your destinations on this trip, so a primer on BC First Nations Coastal culture is worthwhile. Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Port Hardy, where a seaplane will whisk you across the many inlets off Vancouver Island to the Nimmo Bay Resort. Here, full immersion into the wilderness of British Columbia’s coast will include kayaking, paddleboarding, and boating in the calm waters of the inlet. Explore tidal life or watch for whales — both humpbacks and orcas reside in nearby Broughton Archipelago — and head on a bear-watching expedition and hike in the old growth forests.

Stay: Nimmo Bay Resort

Day 6: Bella Coola

Transfer by helicopter to the Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, where grizzly bears hang out on the front lawn! Arrive in time for an afternoon boat drift down the river; whether you see your first mountain grizzly on the front lawn, from a river drift boat, or from the platforms that have been built up and away from the river banks, it will be a memorable experience. In addition to bear watching, guided hiking tours of the area and First Nations cultural walks to ancient petroglyph stone carvings are available. So is soaking in the hot tub or sauna, enjoying the fine dining in the log chalet dining room, or relaxing on the front porch of your luxurious timber frame chalet.

Stay: Tweedsmuir Park Lodge

Days 7-9: Great Bear Rainforest

Depart via private sea plane from Bella Coola to Klemtu, in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest. Lodge staff will meet you and take you to the property, where you can immerse yourself in the rich cultural and natural history of this area. The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world. You will spend your days, together with only a few other guests and your very experienced guides, traveling by motor boat to explore it. Orcas, eagles, grizzly bears, black bears, and, of course, the rare Spirit Bear all come down to the rivers to feed on the abundance of salmon.

Should you need a break from all that wildlife, the rich and lengthy Kitasoo/Xai’Xais First Nations cultural history is incredible. The First Nations village of Klemtu boaststhe grandest Big House on the Central Coast, and you will spend time with First Nations hosts and guides — immersing yourself in the stories, way of life, and art of this rich area.

Stay: Spirit Bear Lodge

Day 10: Denny Island

Transfer to Bella Bella, where you will be transferred by water taxi to Shearwater Resort and Marina. This afternoon you may have a chance to visit the Pacific Wild field lab and meet with one of their staff, who will take you on a tour of their facilities on Denny Island. Return to Shearwater and enjoy some fish and chips with the locals on the oceanside patio.

Stay: Shearwater Resort and Marina

Days 11-14: Tofino

Spend the morning exploring Denny Island, or water taxi to Bella Bella for a bit of First Nations arts and crafts shopping. In the afternoon, transfer by private seaplane to Clayoquot Sound, where you will settle in to your accommodations: a luxurious pioneer canvas tent suite, situated along the riverfront and nestled into the lush rainforest. Daily wilderness activities are highly personalized, like surfing lessons on a secluded beach, a day-long hike on Flores Island with a First Nations guide, or kayaking on mountain rivers or ocean coves.

Stay: Clayoquot Wilderness Resort

Day 15: Depart from Vancouver

Spend most of the day exploring around Clayoquot Sound before transferring to Vancouver for your flight home.